Firefighters avert petrol tanker explosion in Delta

The Delta State Fire Service has continued to minimise the destruction of lives and property across the state by averting several fire outbreaks in the past week.

In what could have resulted in widespread destruction, the command contained a situation along the Asaba–Benin Expressway on Monday after a tanker carrying petrol collided with a low-bed trailer at the Customs checkpoint in Okpanam, spilling its contents onto the road.

According to the State Director of the service, Dr Eugene Oziwelle, firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene to douse the tanker and the spilled petrol with water to prevent an explosion, while also cordoning off the area to stop residents from attempting to scoop fuel.

The director said the Sapele fire station, which has been the busiest in recent times, also put out an inferno that engulfed the Asaboro Sawmill Junction wood market, where goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.

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He said reports indicated that the fire started at about 2 a.m. on Saturday following an electrical spark. Firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving a distress call and were able to completely extinguish the fire within about 30 minutes.

Dr Oziwelle added that the station also, on Tuesday, put out a raging fire that could have spread into the main hotel lobby from a detached event centre at Wetland Hotel in Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area, although several tables, chairs and other property in the hall were destroyed.

He further said the fire service station in Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, also extinguished a fire in a compound on Ogboni Street after a detached kitchen was engulfed.

He urged residents to remain vigilant and handle their property with care, advising them to switch off electrical appliances when not in use.

While commending personnel of the service for their swift response to fire outbreaks across the state, the director also advised residents to ensure that inflammable items are not kept close to homes or in places where they could cause damage.